Shoe construction



NOV. 7, 1939. J WAVERSACK 2,179,391

| SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 11, 1939 INVENTOR.

M 5 WM BY MGQW ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 7, 1939 barren rain 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shoe construction and is directed more particularly to the provision of a novel means of ornamenting shoes.

the shoes such as a member or members carried by the shoes adapted to make the desired tapping sounds.

The ornamenting is accomplished. in general by associating with a shoe of usual construction a novel member (or members) which is simple in form so as to be economical to manufacture, and which is especially constructed so as to be capable of easy attachment to the heel of a shoe.

Various other objects andadvantages of the invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, where- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a shoe before the ornamenting means is associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the heel of a shoe having the ornamenting means of the invention associated therewith; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modified form of ornamenting means embodying the features of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a shoe 2. As stated the shoes may be of usual construction having an upper part i, a forward sole part 65, and a rear heel member 8. It is to be understood that the shoe may be for either male or female.

Before the ornamenting means is applied, the lowermost part of the sides and rear, at least, of the heel are reduced to form part Iii as shown. This is preferably accomplished by cutting away the heel at these points for a desired thickness and this is for a purpose which will presently appear.

Just below the point of jointure of the main body of the heel ii and the reduced part [I], that is at the top of the reduced portion ii], there is provided one or more slots l2. These slots l2 extend inwardly in a horizontal plane from the sides and/or rear of the heel.

Extending inwardly from the forward face of the heel'is an elongated slot It and this is preferably in the same plane as slots 52. The forward side of the part it may likewise be cut away if desired but this is not essential for a reason which will later appear.

The ornamenting means consists of an elongated strip of bendable. more or less spring- As a special feature, there may also be provided means for facilitating tap dancing with (Cl. sa /s) like metal and this is formed to have a body part 29 having opposite end portions 22 and projecting-parts 124i and 26. This may be formed by stamping the same out of a single sheet of relatively thin metal.

The body part 26 is of such height and width that when the intermediate part thereof is bent around the reduced portion is, as shown in Fig. 2, its outer surface will be flush with the outer surface of the main part of the heel and its lower marginal edge will be flush with the lower face of the heel. As stated, the strip is bent around the rear of the heel and its opposite end portions 22 are brought into adjacency with the forward face of the heel, that is extending towards one another as shown.

The strip may have as many lugs it as desired but there are preferably as many as there are slots i2. Lugs 26 are provided on the outer ends of parts 22.

These lugs extend from the upper marginal edge of the body part and lugs 23 extend into the slots l2 while the lugs 26 fit'into the forward slot it. Ordinary shoe-makers nails or tacks is may then be driven into the bottom of the heel and through lugs 24 and/or through lugs 26.

If desired, nails (not shown) may extend horizontally through parts 22 and into the heel.

It is desirable that the strip be relatively thin so it is readily bendable and for the reason that it is not intended that too much effort be required to drive the nails through the metal. That is, I prefer that the shoe-makers conventional gauge l 8 nails be used and that they merely puncture the metal at the desired places.

The preferred construction is such that the lugs 25 and 26 will readily slide into the slots provided therefor. Since the metal is, as stated,

easily bendable and relatively spring-like, the band may be readily pulled around the rear of the heel with the lugs 24 in place and then the end portions 22 may be bent inwardly towards one another and the forward lugs 26 sprung into place. i

It will be seen that with this method of assembly the band is easily shaped to the heel and the strip may be of steel, brass, copper or any other metal. It is desirable however, that it be a highly polished metal, such as that having a nickel finish, or even a gold or silver plating may be used. This is so that the ornamental effect will be enhanced.

If desired, there may be secured to the lower face of the heel a thin metal plate 3!! which may be secured thereto by nails 32. This is for facilitating the making of tapping sounds with the heel and the metal may be of the same material as that from which the bands are formed.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a modified form of the invention and here the body member is similar to the body of the strip previously described except that its intermediate portion 42, that is that part which is adapted to extend around the rear of the heel, is substantially thicker than'the rest of the strip, as shown, and particularly thicker than the opposite end portions 44.

The desired number of lugs 42 are provided for inserting in the slots at the sides and rear of the heel and lugs 48 are provided on the end portions 44 for inserting in the forward face of the heel as above mentioned. The thicker portion 42 is flush with the bottom face of the heel and is thus adapted to make tapping sounds when contacted with the dance floor. This, of course, is not obtainable with the thinner portions M which are purposely so since they have to be more readily bent into place.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to the present preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with a shoe-heel having an upper part of a certain area and a reduced lower part with spaced horizontally-extending recesses in said lower part just below said upper part of a device of the class described comprising, a vertically-disposed relatively thin metal strip member having a central portion which is relatively thicker than its opposite end portions, said central portion being disposed closely adjacent the back surface of said lower part of the heel and said end portions being disposed closely adjacent the side and front surfaces of said lower part of the heel, the outer surface of said strip member being in a plane with the outer surface of said upper part of the heel and its lower marginal edge being in a plane with the bottom surface of the heel, and horizontal tongues integral with said strip member extending into and secured in said recesses.

2. The combination with a shoe-heel having an upper part of a certain area and a reduced lower part with spaced horizontally-extending recesses in said lower part just below said upper part of a device of the class described comprising, a vertically-disposed relatively thin metal strip member having a central portion which is relatively thicker than its opposite end portions, said central portion being disposed closely adjacent the back surface of said lower part of the heel and said end portions being disposed closely adjacent the side and front surfaces of said lower part of the heel, the outer surface of said strip member being in a plane with the outer surface of said upper part of the heel and its lower marginal edge being in a plane with the bottom surface of the heel, horizontal tongues integral with said strip member extending into and secured in said recesses, and a. flat substantially crescentshaped piece of metal secured to said bottom surface of the heel with a convex outer marginal edge closely adjacent the lower marginal edge of said central portion of the strip member.

JOSEPH S. WAVERSACK. 

